Letters in ( )* stand
for the eight directions=N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SW, SE.Numbers in ( )*
correlate to the frame number in main lesson image below,as much as possible...(some frames
are 'in between' described movements,in which case either I will try
to redo the image, or you will need to exerciseyour imagination even more than
is necessary to learn any movement art from'text and images' alone in the
first place.)Formula in brackets [W=
] denote weightedness, which is the amount of bodyweight shifted to either side (L=left,
R=right, even=doubleweightedness);example: [W=70R]
means 'put 70% of your weight on your right side.' The rangehere will be approximate, ideally
based on an individuals personal needs, abilities and experience.
*You
may choose to read through the text the first time disregarding theseparentheticals...it's easier!!We OPENED
the set (Lesson 1) facing North (N); as you
view images on your monitor for the current postures (below), imagine that
you are again facing North as you begin Lifting hands and also as you finish
White crane preening wings.

At the
conclusion of Single whip
(1), your feet and arms are pointed to the corners (right =
NE;
left =
NW),
with your left palm pointing away from you, fingertips up, and your face
turned in the same direction (NW).
Your right fingers are still folded downward into a 'beak' shape; knees
and arms are slightly bent [W= even]. Lifting
hands beginsas you start to shift your weight over [W=
70L] to your left side (2-6), turning so that you now
face North.
Next, raise your right heel [W= 90L], then toe (5) [W=
100L]¹,
and move your right foot in a slight arc back to the centerin front of
you (North),
and set your right heel down (8)[W= 90L]; simultaneous to
centering your right leg/foot, bring your right arm up in an arc, in toward
the center (9), until it is chest high and horizontal with
the floor, with elbow slightly bent, relaxing the right hand as you do,
slowly turning the right palm from facing West
to facing you (South)
(9-10), as your right arm is moving toward the center (North). SIMULTANEOUS
to all of this(!), bend your
lower left arm at the elbow²,
rotating your left hand in toward your head (7-10), with
your left palm still facing away, fingertips vertical, several inches before
your nose. Next (11-14),
as you begin to shift your weight forward (North)
onto your right leg [W= 70L], directing the energy of your movement
from your center (as always!), the toe of your right foot rests
down [W= even], pointing forward in line with the heel (12,13).
Hold your right arm still allowing the bodies chi
to
move your vertical left palm (facing out) (North)
to a near proximity (15) with the now stationary and horizontally
held
right palm (facing in) (South).[W=
70R] Continuing
from here, further shift the weight forward on the right leg [W= 90R],
unbending your knees some, and
lift your right hand up (16),
slowly rotating your right palm away from you (North)
(17,18) as you rotate your right forearm away also (19).
Your right hand rests near your forehead, palm facing away (North)
(with pinky³
up). While you lift the right hand, lower your left hand to
your left side, with your left palm facing backward (South)
(18-20). At the same time that you do all of
this (!), lift your left heel (13) [W= 90R], then toe [W=
100R],
off of the floor¹
(14) and shift your left leg forward (14-16), bringing it
even
with your right leg. Rest your left foot down, landing on the
ball of your foot, with both feet about shoulder distance apart, pointing
forward (North).
(17) [W= even]

White
crane preening wings(21
through 36)

White crane
preening wings begins at this point, as you
bow the upper torso only, slightly forward (21) (keep
that behind tucked in) while bending knees slightly
more;
then, in that position, rotate your upper torso at the waist to
the left, holding your (lower) trunk still, and moving your entire upper
torso (only) as one body, from facing North
around
to facing West
(22-25). As you do, slowly lower your right arm,
and slowly raise your left arm, palms away from you, with elbows bent and
arms moving in a slight curved shape. (23-27) Your
upper body then faces West
while your lower body faces North
still; your hands lower/rise respectively until they are both at eye level
and shoulder width apart. Your elbows are bent out at shoulder level.
(28) [W= even] Then draw
the left and right hand toward each other until fingers nearly touch, palms
away, forming a place between fingers and thumbs to hold a small imaginary
ball or globe.(28) Raise your entire self as one by
unbending your knees (29-30) (but not completely, of course),
then rotate your waist back forward again (31), facing your upper
torso to the North
once more. (31-36) [W= even]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Remember to keep your knees and
elbows at least slightly bent and your pelvis tucked in
throughout the set.)

(If at all possible, it is suggested
that someone read the text to you - or record it on a tape and play it
back - while you slowly practice the form...and slowlyis
the best way to practice.)

notes:

¹
Here you are completelyweighted on the left side; the only way to
liftone legup off of the ground is to have all of
your weight balanced on the other leg. _go
back_

as time permits i will explain
theseconcepts and expand the list
of fundamentals

May I suggest the best way to see
these images in the days after
the lesson page has changed is to 'right click' on those images you want
NOW
and click'save image as', then save it to
some hard drive (the loads are BIG!)You can also freely copy/paste/amend
the text. (But do not sell, please)

~ ~ special thanks ~ ~toMichael W and Shar'nfor making free cyberspace available
for MORE Playshop lessons atwww.caliban.netNOW all of the Playshop lessons should
ALWAYS be available online~ ~ ~

If the pictures stop animating on
your page, hit reload (refresh)(I've even had to "clear memory cache" first
if I interrupted initial page loading)

this is a mirror (reverse) image of the
Right Hand Set, which means that if you
follow my movement on your monitor
you will be performing a Right Hand Set...
(t'ai chi is practiced from both sides) when YOU practice t'ai chi, move slowly(and hopefully less jerkily than this animation)

notes:I made the T'ai Chi graphic images using a reverse image option
so that I couldvideo the Left Hand Set, then when it is viewed here on your
monitor, it appears as a mirror image of a Right Hand Set, which you can emulate
by following my movements. Most T'ai Chi students only learn the Right
Hand Set, and it is a good way to start. One can practice the opposite
side movements (Left Hand) by practicing the reverse of the image(s) above.
I am fortunate that the students who instructed me at my t'ai chi beginning
practiced both sides of the set daily. By learning the left and right
versions (identical, just reversed) of t'ai chi, I believe one may gain even
more.

Is there some aspect of the movement not made clear by the images
(or the text, for that matter)?? Please tell me, and if I cannot clarify
it with words I will try to make a new image to illustrate a way out
of that confusion.

~ ~ ~
~ ~

still more notes:

It is better by far to experience learning Tai Chi of any kind
in a group setting, primarily for two reasons. First, it's more fun! and
nothing is better for learning than sharing ideas and practice with individuals
who share the same interests. By having many artisans practice together,
this allows for an excellent source of useful feedback. More than
critically watching the moves as others do them, this also affords an opportunity
that is unparalleled: by standing in the center surrounded by more advanced
students, with every movement in every direction, the novice has a rotating
view of the form. This allows the newer student to follow all the
others, even as the plane of movement tangents onto a new direction. Turn
left, a senior student is in front to follow from; turn right, another teacher
is in view;
spin around 180° and, yep, you guessed
it.

Though learning Tai Chi from pictures, and (sometimes even worse) from text,
is not the best method to use...it is what I can offer. Some people
have little or no access to teachers or classes in their area; some have
little or no money for them even if they did exist; some folk are shy and
some may be to dis-eased to go to a class; it is for all these people (the
ones online, at least) and of course for the martial arts intellectuals
(you know who you are) that I make this meager presentation.

TAI CHI CLASSESFor anyone in or near (or just visiting) the
San Francisco Bay Area, please accept our invitation to join us in our VIRTUAL REALITY
PLAYSHOP
(real people), any Saturday morning from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
at 1819 10th Street, in Berkeley.
(The set usually begins @ 9:10 a.m. Saturday
Just take the outside stairs on the south side of Finnish Hall to the top
to get in--or take the disabled folks elevator inside--if you need it)

~ ~ ~
~ ~

finally! feedbackfinally, your notes:

Scott, I HAVE FEEDBACK FOR YOU and/or
I wanna get email when the lesson page changes :)

FEEDBACK FORM:

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ENTER Your thoughts about this page
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Click 'Send Feedback' button when you've finished.If you can't see the feedback form on your browser or
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for above...thanks!TO EMAIL HERE PLEASE MANUALLY CHANGE 'AT'
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~ ~ ~

Only you yourself will know if you have stretchedyour chi 'enough', 'too much', or even 'not enough'. what
we desire to achieve with T'ai Chi is balance: to get there, moderation, not
excess, is required.

~ ~
~ ~ ~

Keep in mind while upon this new journey that we do it
for our health, for our joy, for our spiritual reawakening...not to suffer
more, but to complete ourselvesas beings, and rejoice of the universe.

~ ~
~ ~ ~

With gratitude to Li Lida (1922-1982)

SPECIAL THANKSto Ruth, David, Lydia, Michael G, Shar'n, Harold, Eileen, Robert,and all of the other people who have helped me learn T'ai Chi...

injoy heartLove!

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE ~FOR EASY RETURN

this webpage was originally created at9:33 A.M. P.S.T., on Thursday, July 16,
1998

nothing new here in this part of the Universe
sinceNovember 27, 2006
at 4:55 P.M.